Consistent changes in the visible moon in the sky
The moon goes through the following phases of illumination:
- new moon- a state when the Moon is not visible. New Moon is the phase of the Moon at which its ecliptic longitude is the same as that of the Sun. Thus, at this time the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun approximately on the same straight line with them. If they are exactly on the same line, a solar eclipse occurs. During the new moon, the Moon is not visible in the night sky, since at this time it is very close to the Sun on the celestial sphere (no further than 5°) and at the same time is turned to us on the night side. But sometimes it can be seen against the background of the solar disk (solar eclipse). In addition, some time (usually about two days) after or before the new moon, with a very clear atmosphere, you can still notice the disk of the Moon, illuminated by weak light reflected from the Earth (ash light of the Moon). The interval between new moons is on average 29.530589 days (synodic month). On the new moon, the Jewish New Year and the Chinese (Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese) New Year of the 60-year cycle begin.
- new moon- the first appearance of the Moon in the sky after the new moon in the form of a narrow crescent.
- first quarter- the state when half of the Moon is illuminated.
- waxing moon
- full moon- a state when the entire Moon is illuminated. Full Moon is the phase of the Moon at which the difference between the ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon is 180°. This means that the plane drawn through the Sun, Earth and Moon is perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic. If all three objects are in the same line, a lunar eclipse occurs. The moon at full moon looks like a regular luminous disk. In astronomy, the moment of the full moon is calculated with an accuracy of several minutes; In everyday life, a full moon is usually called a period of several days during which the Moon is visually almost indistinguishable from the full one. During a full moon, the so-called opposition effect can occur for several hours, during which the brightness of the disk increases noticeably, despite its unchanged size. The effect is explained by the complete disappearance (for an earthly observer) of shadows on the surface of the Moon at the moment of opposition. The maximum brightness of the Moon during a full moon is -12.7m.
- waning moon
- last quarter- the state when half of the moon is illuminated again.
- old moon
To distinguish the first quarter from the last, an observer located in the northern hemisphere can use the following mnemonic rules. If the lunar crescent in the sky looks like the letter “C (d)”, then this is the “Aging” or “Descending” moon, that is, this is the last quarter (dernier in French). If it is turned in the opposite direction, then, by mentally placing a stick on it, you can get the letter “P (p)” - the moon “Waxing”, that is, this is the first quarter (premier in French).
The waxing month is usually observed in the evening, and the aging month in the morning.
It should be noted that near the equator the month is always visible “lying on its side”, and this method is not suitable for determining the phase. In the Southern Hemisphere, the orientation of the crescent in the corresponding phases is the opposite: the waxing month (from new moon to full moon) looks like the letter “C” (Crescendo,<), а убывающий (от полнолуния до новолуния) похож на букву «Р» без палочки (Diminuendo, >). Interesting facts Usually, there is one full moon for each calendar month, but since the phases of the moon change a little faster than 12 times a year, sometimes a second full moon in a month occurs, called a blue moon.
The Moon is the closest celestial body to the Earth, its only natural satellite. Being at a distance of about 380 thousand km from the Earth, the Moon revolves around it in the same direction in which the Earth rotates around its axis. Every day it moves relative to the stars by about 13°, making a full revolution in 27.3 days. This period of time - the period of revolution of the Moon around the Earth in a reference system associated with the stars - is called a sidereal or sidereal month (from the Latin sidus - star) month.
The Moon does not have its own glow, and the Sun illuminates only half of the lunar globe. Therefore, as it moves in orbit around the Earth, the appearance of the Moon changes - a change in lunar phases. At what time of day the Moon is above the horizon, how we see the hemisphere of the Moon facing the Earth - fully illuminated or partially illuminated - all this depends on the position of the Moon in orbit.
If it is positioned so that its dark, unlit side faces the Earth (position 1), then we cannot see the Moon, but we know that it is somewhere in the sky near the Sun. This phase of the moon is called the new moon. Moving in orbit around the Earth, the Moon will reach position 2 in about three days. At this time, it can be seen in the evenings near the setting Sun in the form of a narrow crescent, convexly facing to the right. At the same time, the rest of the Moon is often visible, which glows much weaker, the so-called ashen light. It is our planet, reflecting the sun's rays, that illuminates the night side of its satellite.
Day by day, the crescent moon increases in width, and its angular distance from the Sun increases. A week after the new moon, we see half of the illuminated hemisphere of the Moon - a phase called the first quarter begins. Subsequently, the proportion of the illuminated hemisphere of the Moon visible from Earth continues to increase until the full moon occurs. In this phase, the Moon is in the sky in the direction opposite to the Sun and is visible above the horizon all night - from sunset to sunrise. After the full moon, the phase of the moon begins to decrease. Its angular distance from the Sun also decreases. First, a small damage appears on the right edge of the lunar disk, which has the shape of a sickle. Gradually this damage increases (position 6), and a week after the full moon the last quarter phase begins. In this phase, as in the first quarter, we again see half of the illuminated hemisphere of the Moon, but now the other, which was unlit in the first quarter. The moon rises late and is visible in this phase in the morning. Subsequently, its crescent, now convexly facing to the left, becomes more and more narrow (position 8), gradually approaching the Sun. In the end, he disappears into the rays of the rising Sun - the new moon comes again.
The full cycle of changing lunar phases is 29.5 days. This period of time between two successive identical phases is called a synodic month (from the Greek synodos - connection). Even in ancient times, for many peoples, the month, along with the day and year, became one of the main calendar units. It is not difficult to understand why the synodic month is longer than the sidereal month if we remember that the Earth moves around the Sun. After 27.3 days, the Moon will take its previous position in the sky relative to the stars and will be at point L1. During this time, the Earth, moving by 1° per day, will pass an arc of 27° along its orbit and end up at point T1. The Moon, in order to be at the L2 new moon again, will have to go through the same arc in its orbit (27°). This will take a little more than two days, since the Moon moves by 13° per day. Only one side of the Moon is visible from Earth, but this does not mean that it does not rotate around its axis. Let's conduct an experiment with the globe of the Moon, moving it around the globe of the Earth so that one side of the lunar globe is always facing it. This can only be achieved if we rotate it in relation to all other objects in the class.
A full revolution of the globe of the Moon around its axis will be completed simultaneously with the completion of one revolution around the globe of the Earth. This proves that the period of rotation of the Moon around its axis is equal to the sidereal period of its revolution around the Earth - 27.3 days. If the orbital plane along which the Moon moves around the Earth coincided with the orbital plane along which the Earth revolves around the Sun, then a solar eclipse would occur every month at the moment of the new moon, and a lunar eclipse at the moment of the full moon. This does not happen because the plane of the lunar orbit is inclined to the plane of the Earth's orbit at an angle of about 5°. That is why, on a new moon, the shadow of the Moon can pass above the Earth, and on a full moon, the Moon itself can pass below the Earth’s shadow. At this time, the position of the Moon's orbit is such that it intersects the plane of the Earth's orbit in the first and last quarter phases. In what cases can eclipses of the Sun and Moon occur? You already know that the direction of the Earth’s rotation axis in space remains unchanged when our planet moves around the Sun.
The position of the lunar orbital plane remains virtually unchanged throughout the year. Let's consider how this will affect the possibility of eclipses. In three months, the Earth will travel a quarter of its way around the Sun and take up its position. Now the plane of the lunar orbit will be located so that the line of its intersection with the plane of the earth's orbit is directed towards the Sun. Therefore, the Moon will cross the plane of the Earth's orbit (or be close to it) during the new moon and full moon. In other words, moving across the sky, the Moon comes to that point on the ecliptic where the Sun is at that moment, and blocks it from us. If the Sun is completely covered by the Moon, the eclipse is called total. If it happens that it covers only part of the Sun, then the eclipse will be partial. When the Moon crosses the ecliptic at a point diametrically opposite to the Sun, it itself is completely or partially hidden in the shadow of the Earth.
Lunar eclipses, like solar eclipses, can be total or partial. Conditions favorable for the onset of eclipses persist for about a month. During this time, at least one solar eclipse or two solar and one lunar eclipse can occur. The next location of the lunar orbit necessary for the onset of eclipses will be repeated again only after about six months (177 - 178 days), when the Earth has passed half of its path around the Sun. During the year, two or three solar eclipses and one or two lunar eclipses usually occur on Earth. The maximum number of eclipses per year is seven. Lunar eclipses, although they occur less frequently than solar eclipses, are visible more often. The Moon, which falls into the Earth's shadow during an eclipse, is visible throughout the Earth's hemisphere, where it is above the horizon at that time.
Plunging into the earth's shadow, the Moon acquires a reddish color of various shades. The color depends on the state of the earth's atmosphere, which, while refracting the rays of the Sun and scattering them, still transmits red rays inside the shadow cone. It takes the Moon several hours to cross the Earth's shadow. The total phase of the eclipse lasts about one and a half hours. A total eclipse of the Sun can be observed only where a small (no more than 270 km in diameter) spot of the lunar shadow falls on the Earth. The Moon's shadow moves at a speed of approximately 1 km/s across the earth's surface from west to east, so at each point on the Earth a total eclipse lasts only a few minutes (at the equator the maximum duration is 7 minutes 40 s). The path that the Moon's shadow travels is called the streak of a total solar eclipse.
In different years, the lunar shadow runs across different regions of the globe, so total solar eclipses are visible less frequently than lunar ones. So, for example, in the vicinity of Moscow the last time an eclipse occurred was on August 19, 1887, and the next time it will occur only on September 16, 2126. The penumbra of the Moon has a diameter significantly larger than the shadow - about 6000 km. Where the Moon's penumbra falls, a partial eclipse of the Sun occurs. They can be seen every two to three years. Every 6585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours) eclipses are repeated in the same order. This is the period of time during which the plane of the lunar orbit makes a complete revolution in space. Knowledge of the patterns of movement of the Moon and the Earth allows scientists to calculate the moments of eclipses with a high degree of accuracy hundreds of years in advance and know where on the globe they will be visible. Information about eclipses for the coming year and the conditions for their visibility are contained in the Astronomical Calendar, and here for a longer period. Having the necessary data on upcoming eclipses, scientists have the opportunity to organize expeditions during the total solar eclipse. At the moment of the full phase, one can observe the outer, most rarefied layers of the Sun's atmosphere - the solar corona, which is not visible under normal conditions. In the past, many important information about the nature of the Sun was obtained during total eclipses.
The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth. This is the closest celestial body to the Earth; it shines with reflected sunlight. The Moon moves around the Earth approximately in an elliptical orbit in the same direction as the Earth rotates around its axis. Therefore, we see the Moon moving among the stars towards the rotation of the sky. The direction of the Moon's movement is always the same - from west to east. For an observer on Earth, the Moon moves 13.2° per day.
The Moon completes its orbit around the Earth in 27.3 days ( sidereal month). And in the same time it makes one revolution around its axis, so the same hemisphere of the Moon always faces the Earth.
The movement of the Moon around the Earth is very complex, and its study is one of the most difficult problems of celestial mechanics. The apparent movement of the Moon is accompanied by a continuous change in its appearance - a change of phases. This happens because the Moon occupies different positions relative to the Sun and the Earth that illuminate it. Lunar phase called the part of the lunar disk visible in sunlight.
Let's look at the phases of the moon, starting with the new moon. This phase occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and faces us with its dark side. The Moon is not visible at all from Earth.
After one or two days, a narrow bright crescent of the “young” Moon appears in the western sky and continues to grow. Sometimes it is noticeable against the sky (due to the dim grayish glow - the so-called ashen light Moon) and the rest of the lunar disk. The phenomenon of ashen light is explained by the fact that the lunar crescent is illuminated directly by the Sun, and the rest of the lunar surface is illuminated by scattered sunlight reflected by the Earth. After 7 days, the entire right half of the lunar disk will be visible - the first quarter phase. In this phase, the Moon rises during the day, is visible in the southern sky in the evening, and sets at night. Then the phase increases, and 14-15 days after the new moon, the Moon comes into opposition with the Sun. Her phase becomes complete, comes full moon. The sun's rays illuminate the entire lunar hemisphere facing the Earth. The Full Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible in the southern sky in the middle of the night.
After the full moon, the Moon gradually approaches the Sun from the west and is illuminated by it from the left. After about a week, the phase begins third, or last quarter. In this case, the Moon rises around midnight, by sunrise it is in the southern sky and sets during the day. With further approach of the Earth's satellite to the Sun, the waning phases of the Moon become crescent-shaped. The moon is visible only in the morning, shortly before sunrise, and sets during the daylight hours, before sunset. This time the narrow crescent of the Moon is convexly facing the east. Then the new moon comes again, and the Moon ceases to be visible in the sky.
About 29.5 days pass from one new moon to the next. This period of changing lunar phases is called synodic month. The synodic (or lunar) month is longer than the sidereal (or sidereal) month, since both the Moon and the Earth move in a forward direction through space.
The Moon moves around the Earth in the same direction in which the Earth rotates around its axis. The reflection of this movement, as we know, is the visible movement of the Moon against the background of stars towards the rotation of the sky. Every day, the Moon moves east relative to the stars by approximately 13°, and after 27.3 days it returns to the same stars, having described a full circle on the celestial sphere.
The period of revolution of the Moon around the Earth relative to the stars(in the inertial frame of reference) called sidereal or sidereal(from Latin sidus - star) month. It is 27.3 days.
The apparent movement of the Moon is accompanied by a continuous change in its appearance - phase change. This happens because the Moon occupies different positions relative to the Sun and the Earth that illuminate it. A diagram explaining the changing phases of the Moon is shown in Figure 20.
When the Moon appears to us as a narrow crescent, the rest of its disk also glows slightly. This phenomenon is called ashen light and is explained by the fact that the Earth illuminates the night side of the Moon with reflected sunlight.
The period of time between two successive identical phases of the Moon is called a synodic month(from Greek synodos - connection); This is the period of the Moon's revolution around the Earth relative to the Sun. It is equal (as observations show) to 29.5 days.
Thus, the synodic month is longer than the sidereal month. This is easy to understand, knowing that the same phases of the Moon occur at the same positions relative to the Earth and the Sun. In Figure 21, the relative position of the Earth T and the Moon L corresponds to the moment of the new moon. After 27.3 days, Moon L, having made a full revolution, will take its previous position relative to the stars. During this time, the Earth T, together with the Moon, will pass through its orbit relative to the Sun an arc TT 1 equal to almost 27°, since it shifts by about 1° every day. For Moon L 1 to take its previous position relative to the Sun and Earth T 1 (arrive at the new moon), it will take another two days. Indeed, the Moon travels 360° per day: 27.3 days = 13°/day, in order to pass an arc of 27°, it needs to. 27°: 13°/day=2 days. So it turns out that the synodic month of the Moon is about 29.5 Earth days.
We always see only one hemisphere of the Moon. This is sometimes perceived as a lack of axial rotation. In fact, this is explained by the equality of the periods of rotation of the Moon around its axis and its revolution around the Earth.
Check this by circling an object around you and at the same time o rotating it around its axis with a period equal to the period of the traversal.
Rotating around its axis, the Moon alternately turns its different sides towards the Sun. Consequently, there is a change of day and night on the Moon, and the solar day is equal to the synodic period (its revolution relative to the Sun). Thus, on the Moon the length of the day is equal to two earthly weeks and our two weeks constitute night there.
It is easy to understand that the phases of the Earth and the Moon are mutually opposite. When the Moon is almost full, the Earth is visible from the Moon as a narrow crescent. Figure 42 shows a photograph of the sky and lunar horizon with the Earth, of which only its illuminated part is visible - less than a semicircle.
Exercise 5
1. The crescent moon in the evening is convex to the right and close to the horizon. Which side of the horizon is it on?
2. Today the upper culmination of the Moon occurred at midnight. When is the Moon's next upper climax?
3. At what intervals do the stars culminate on the Moon?
2. Lunar and solar eclipses
The Earth and Moon, illuminated by the Sun (Fig. 22), cast shadow cones (converging) and penumbral cones (diverging). When the Moon falls completely or partially into the Earth's shadow, complete or partial lunar eclipse. From Earth, it is visible simultaneously from everywhere where the Moon is above the horizon. The total lunar eclipse phase continues until the Moon begins to emerge from the Earth's shadow, and can last up to 1 hour 40 minutes. The sun's rays, refracted in the Earth's atmosphere, fall into the cone of the earth's shadow. In this case, the atmosphere strongly absorbs blue and adjacent rays (see Fig. 40), and transmits mainly red rays, which are absorbed less weakly, into the cone. This is why the Moon turns reddish during a major eclipse phase and does not disappear completely. In the old days, eclipses of the Moon were feared as a terrible omen; they believed that “the month is bleeding.” Lunar eclipses occur up to three times a year, separated by almost six-month intervals, and, of course, only on the full moon.
A solar eclipse is visible as a total eclipse only where a spot of the moon's shadow falls on the Earth.. The diameter of the spot does not exceed 250 km, and therefore at the same time a total eclipse of the Sun is visible only on a small area of the Earth. As the Moon moves through its orbit, its shadow moves across the Earth from west to east, tracing a successively narrow band of total eclipse (Fig. 23).
Where the penumbra of the Moon falls on the Earth, a partial eclipse of the Sun is observed.(Fig. 24).
Due to a slight change in the distances of the Earth from the Moon and the Sun, the apparent angular diameter of the Moon is sometimes slightly larger, sometimes slightly smaller than the solar one, sometimes equal to it. In the first case, a total eclipse of the Sun lasts up to 7 minutes 40 seconds, in the third - only one instant, and in the second case, the Moon does not completely cover the Sun, it is observed annular eclipse. Then around the dark disk of the Moon the shining rim of the solar disk is visible.
Based on precise knowledge of the laws of motion of the Earth and the Moon, the moments of eclipses and where and how they will be visible are calculated hundreds of years in advance. Maps have been compiled that show the strip of total eclipse, lines (isophases) where the eclipse will be visible in the same phase, and lines relative to which the moments of the beginning, end and middle of the eclipse can be counted for each area.
There can be from two to five solar eclipses per year for the Earth, in the latter case they are certainly partial. On average, a total solar eclipse is seen extremely rarely in the same place - only once every 200-300 years.
Of particular interest to science are total eclipses of the Sun, which previously brought superstitious horror to ignorant people. Such eclipses were considered an omen of war, the end of the world.
Astronomers undertake expeditions into the zone of a total eclipse in order to study the outer rarefied shells of the Sun, invisible directly outside the eclipse, within seconds, rarely minutes of the total phase. During a total solar eclipse, the sky darkens, a glow ring burns along the horizon - the glow of the atmosphere illuminated by the rays of the Sun in areas where the eclipse is incomplete; pearl rays of the so-called solar corona extend around the black solar disk (see Fig. 69).
If the plane of the lunar orbit coincided with the plane of the ecliptic, then a solar eclipse would occur on every new moon, and a lunar eclipse on every full moon. But the plane of the lunar orbit intersects the plane of the ecliptic at an angle of 5°9". Therefore, the Moon usually passes north or south of the plane of the ecliptic, and no eclipses occur. Only during two periods of the year, separated by almost half a year, when at full moon and new moon the Moon is near the ecliptic , an eclipse is possible.
The plane of the lunar orbit rotates in space (this is one of the types of disturbances in the movement of the Moon produced by the attraction of the Sun) * and makes a complete rotation in 18 years. Therefore, the periods of possible eclipses shift according to the dates of the year. Scientists of antiquity noticed the periodicity in eclipses associated with this 18-year period, and could therefore approximately predict the occurrence of eclipses. Now the errors in pre-calculating the moments of the eclipse are less than 1 s.
Information about upcoming eclipses and the conditions for their visibility is given in the “School Astronomical Calendar”.
Exercise 6
1. Yesterday there was a full moon. Could there be a solar eclipse tomorrow? a week later?
2. The day after tomorrow there will be a solar eclipse. Will there be a moonlit night today?
3. Is it possible to observe the solar eclipse on November 15 from the North Pole of the Earth? April 15? Explain the answer.
4. Is it possible to see lunar eclipses that occur in June and November from the North Pole of the Earth? Explain the answer.
5. How to distinguish the phase of an eclipse of the Moon from one of its usual phases?
6. What is the duration of solar eclipses on the Moon compared to their duration on Earth?
As you know, the Moon does not emit light, but only reflects it. And therefore, only that side of it that is illuminated by the Sun is always visible in the sky. This side is called the day side. Moving across the sky from the west to the east, the Moon over the course of the month catches up and overtakes the Sun. There is a change in the relative positions of the Moon, Earth and Sun. In this case, the sun's rays change the angle of incidence on the lunar surface and therefore the part of the Moon visible from the Earth changes. The movement of the Moon across the sky is usually divided into phases directly related to its modification: new moon, new moon, first quarter, full moon and last quarter.
Moon observations
The Moon is a celestial body of spherical shape. That is why, when it is partially illuminated by sunlight from the side, the appearance of a “sickle” appears. By the way, by the illuminated side of the Moon you can always determine in which direction the Sun is located, even if it is hidden behind the horizon.
The duration of the complete change of all lunar phases is usually called a synodic month and ranges from 29.25 to 29.83 Earth solar days. The length of the synodic month varies due to the elliptical shape of the lunar orbit.
During the new moon, the Moon's disk is completely invisible in the night sky, since at this time it is located as close as possible to the Sun and at the same time faces the Earth with its night side.
Next comes the new moon phase. During this period of time, the Moon becomes visible in the night sky for the first time in the synodic month in the form of a narrow crescent and can be observed at dusk a few minutes before its setting.
Next comes the first quarter. This is the phase in which exactly half of its visible part is illuminated, as in the last quarter. The only difference is that in the first quarter the proportion of the illuminated part at this moment increases.
The full moon is the phase in which the lunar disk is clearly and completely visible. During the full moon, for several hours you can observe the so-called opposition effect, in which the brightness of the lunar disk noticeably increases, while its size remains the same. This phenomenon can be explained quite simply: for an earthly observer, at this moment all shadows on the surface of the Moon disappear.
There are also phases of the waxing, waning and old moon. All of them are characterized by a very narrow crescent of the Moon with a grayish-ash color typical for these phases.
From all of the above we can conclude that, in fact, nothing obscures the Moon. The angle of its illumination by the sun's rays simply changes.
Sources:
- Rituals for the full moon and waxing moon
Everyone knows that the success of a particular enterprise depends not only on the presence of all the necessary conditions and the psychological attunement of people who are ready to get down to business. Success also depends on the right moment chosen to implement the business. The ancients always focused on the position of celestial bodies before starting any business. In particular, they paid attention to the phase of the moon.
You will need
- - astrological magazines and websites;
- - observing the moon.
Instructions
Take a look at. This will be the most reliable way to determine the phase of the moon. Typically, such calendars can be found on special websites or in the news (see the “Weather” section). Various publications for gardeners can also help. The moon helps gardeners choose the right day to plant flowers, vegetables or trees. It is believed that trees are best placed on the Moon, because this way they will grow faster.
Use a method familiar to everyone from childhood. Determine the phase of the moon using the finger method. Place your index finger towards the crescent moon. If the resulting figure forms the letter “P” (a crescent moon acts as the “arm”), then the Moon is growing. If the crescent is turned in the other direction and resembles the letter “C,” it means that the Moon is waning. This method is suitable if you need to determine right now whether the Moon is waning or not, but there is no opportunity to turn to the Internet or any magazine: in front of you is only the sky and crescent.
Do not start new things during the waning moon. The position of the night star affects the daily activities of any person much more than the position of the Sun. Whenever you are about to undertake any serious undertaking, pay attention to the phase of the moon. Choose the moment when it is growing. But at the same time, there are situations in which the waning Moon is favorable. “Underground” vegetables grow better, operations are also resolved favorably, and all household chores go well.
Analyze the dreams you have at the stage when the Moon is waning. You may dream about things that need to be completed. Pay attention to such dreams, use them as a guide for yourself. On the waning moon, you often have very emotional dreams, imbued with a lyrical mood. This lunar phase provokes the active functioning of the nervous system. It is during this half of the month that a person (through feelings and emotions) comes to decisions and answers that he could not find before, with the help of reason.
Video on the topic
note
Engage in healing your body, taking into account the lunar phases. There are 4 of them. Carefully study the features of each to achieve the best healing effect.
Helpful advice
Pay attention to the meaning of lunar days; each of them is favorable for a certain type of activity.
Sources:
- All about the lunar calendar
- Which moon is waxing or waning?
The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth, the radius of which is approximately a quarter of the Earth's. At night, we see its disk, illuminated differently by the Sun, which is invisible at that time. The degree of illumination depends on the relative positions of the Earth, Moon and Sun. In total, there are four degrees of illumination, which are called “phases”.
The cycle of lunar phases repeats itself after about 30 days - more precisely, from 29.25 to 29.83 days. The line of illumination - the terminator - moves smoothly along the surface of the Earth's natural satellite, but it is customary to distinguish only four positions, classifying all intermediate options as one of them. Therefore, it is believed that during each cycle there are four lunar phases, which are also called “quarters”. You can determine which phase the Moon is in at the moment visually - there are simple mnemonic rules for this.
Each new cycle begins with a new moon - a very narrow illuminated crescent is visible at the western edge of the visible disk on the first day, and with each subsequent day its width increases. During this first phase of the cycle, as well as in the second that follows, the Moon is called waxing. If you draw a vertical line to the visible sickle, you get “P” - the first one in “”. When the visible crescent of the natural satellite grows to half the disk at its widest part, the first phase will end and the second will begin - this happens in approximately 7.5 days. The second phase - or the second quarter - lasts the same amount of time and by the end of it the entire visible disk of the Earth's satellite turns out to be luminous. On the last day of the second phase, the full moon comes, and the natural satellite most justifies the “night luminary”.
The next two quarters of the Moon are called “waning” or “aging”. During this period, her luminous area every night more and more resembles the letter “C” - the first in the word “aging”. The process occurs in the reverse order - the width of the illuminated part of the disk decreases every night, and when only half of it remains, the third phase will end and the last one will begin. At the end of the fourth quarter, the Moon faces the Earth with its unlit side.
Video on the topic
The moon, or the month, as it is popularly called, has always attracted people, beckoned with its mystery; it and its ability to change size and shape have been given mystical significance. The different phases of the moon have their meaning in astrology, magic, religion, and science.
Being a night luminary, the Moon actually does not shine, and this was proven many centuries ago. What a person sees in the sky at night is the reflection of the sun's rays from its surface. As the Moon moves in space relative to the Earth and the Sun, it changes its shape, going from waxing to waning. Each of the three phases of visibility and glow of the Moon in astronomy and astrology corresponds to the calendar value of the lunar day. In mysticism and magic, these phases have their own names; they correspond to the rituals and beliefs permitted in a given period. Scientists from various fields did not ignore the lunar phases, and they all interpreted its changes as the angle in which it is visible from the Earth.
How to determine the “age” of a month
Almost every person is fascinated by the night sky illuminated by the Moon, and he watches with interest the changes in the outlines of this night star, but not everyone knows what phase the Moon is in at the moment and even has no idea about the “new month”.There are many interpretations of this expression regarding the Moon. But, in essence, it means that the night star is just beginning to emerge from the shadow of planet Earth, and only a small part of its surface is accessible to the rays of the Sun. During this period, only a thin semicircular strip with pointed edges facing left, in the shape of a semicircle from the letter P, can be observed from the Earth.
In religious terms, the new month symbolizes the beginning of a new period. The phase of the new month, according to church canons, is most successful for baptism, wedding, tonsure as a monk and taking vows.
In various astrological calendars, the new month promotes growth and formation, and it is during this period that it is best to change something in your life, for example, your place of work or residence. Even those carried out during the waxing Moon phase will bring the greatest benefit, and plant seeds planted in the soil will produce friendly shoots that will bring a large harvest.
In magic, during the birth of the month and its growth, various rituals are performed, spells for love spells and improvement of financial situation are read on the young Moon, and other magical actions are performed.
Other meanings of the expression “new moon”
The growing Moon is very popular not only among astrologers, fans of black or white magic and ministers of religion, but also among lyrical poets. One can find many examples among the works of the classics, where a lover compared himself or the object of his passion with the new moon, or where someone suffering from unrequited love shared his sorrows with the emerging Moon.In the common people, this epithet was awarded to beloved children, young talents on whom great hopes were pinned; this was the name given to unusually beautiful young men and women.
Sources:
- What is a new month
- Three phases of the moon